‘A short time, madam, and this young man will be the wonder and the admiration of Europe!’ that’s what Leonardo Leo, the Nestor of Neapolitan composers, is said to have exclaimed after his first contact with Niccolò Jommelli. Leo was right: it did not take long before Jommelli was considered to be the most excellent European composer by many people. And those were the days when Handel, Bach, Telemann, Vivaldi and Scarlatti created their masterpieces. A large part of the music of late Baroque and early Classicism was written by the composer who has become almost entirely forgotten today. Such is often the fate of innovators and creators of new qualities; those who continue their work are remembered better by future generations. Contrary to established beliefs, history is the most accidental and unfair judges of works of arts. Among the artists who became indebted to Jommelli there are Gluck and artists from the famous Mannheim school – the particularly characteristic achievement of the latter, the orchestral crescendo, was invented by Jommelli himself!

Seven days, seven concerts and a constellation of early music stars. This year’s edition of the festival will be a presentation of the heritage of European music from the Middle Ages till Classicism. The audience of Krakow will have an opportunity to see once more the outstanding musicians whom they particularly adore: Jordi Savall and Ottavio Dantone. Apart from them, Christopher Rousset and René Jacobs will perform in Krakow again. The musicians who will perform with their ensembles at the festival for the first time will be Diego Fasolis, Alessandro de Marchi and Paul van Nevel. All of this will happen in the atmosphere of Holy Week. Below you can find information about the unique and sophisticated repertoire of the 12th edition of the festival, which will begin on the 30th of March and will last till the 5th of April. We invite you to make an unforgettable trip into the world of early music together with us.

The poster and the book with programme promoting the Misteria Paschalia Festival 2014 were awarded with silver statuettes in the categories of the Best Poster and the Best Printed Catalogue in the international competition IFEA Pinnacle Awards.